Silk Way West Airlines expands dnata partnership in Singapore
The partnership supports its efforts to maintain operational standards, improve service reliability and ensure efficient cargo movement throughout its network.
Silk Way West Airlines has signed a new multi-year agreement with dnata for cargo and freighter handling services at Singapore Changi Airport, expanding cooperation between the two companies and strengthening a partnership that already spans several international markets.
Under the agreement, dnata will support the airline’s twice-weekly freighter operations at Singapore, a major aviation and logistics hub in Asia. The partnership is expected to cover more than 100 freighter flights annually and handle over 15,000 tonnes of cargo each year. The cargo mix will include general freight, temperature-sensitive products, and specialised shipments such as oil and gas equipment, aviation parts, and aerospace cargo.
The agreement reinforces Singapore’s role in Silk Way West Airlines’ global cargo network, linking the Asia-Pacific region with destinations across the Middle East, Europe and other markets. The airline said the partnership supports its efforts to maintain operational standards, improve service reliability and ensure efficient cargo movement throughout its network.
Onno Pietersma, Chief Operating Officer of Silk Way West Airlines, said: “Singapore is an important gateway in our global cargo network, and reliable ground and cargo handling is essential to maintaining efficient and seamless freighter operations. Our continued cooperation with dnata supports our focus on operational excellence, service reliability and delivering dependable cargo solutions to our customers worldwide.”
For dnata, the agreement adds to its cargo handling activities at Changi Airport, where it serves more than 30 airline customers and manages around 250,000 tonnes of cargo annually. The company said the partnership reflects its capability to support freighter operators in a complex operating environment while maintaining service standards and operational performance.
Tom Alwyn-Jones, Managing Director of dnata’s Airport Operations unit in Singapore, said: “This agreement reflects the strength of our operations in Singapore and our ability to support freighter carriers in a fast-paced and highly coordinated hub, working closely with partners across the Changi Airport community – something our team here takes real pride in.
For us, it’s about delivering consistent, reliable handling on the ground – ensuring aircraft turnarounds, cargo flows and service standards are maintained, even as operational demands continue to increase. That comes down to having the right teams, processes and systems in place locally, working together to keep operations running smoothly at scale.”
The latest agreement builds on a relationship that extends across Amsterdam, Dubai and several destinations in Iraq, where dnata already supports Silk Way West Airlines’ operations. Across these locations, dnata handles more than 1,000 flights and substantial cargo volumes for the carrier every year.
The partnership has also expanded beyond airport handling services. More recently, the two groups have collaborated through a joint venture focused on developing an aviation services hub at Azerbaijan’s cargo airport in the Alat Free Economic Zone, reflecting a broader strategic relationship between the companies.
Globally, dnata provides ground handling and cargo services at more than 90 airports in 16 countries. During the 2025-2026 financial year, the company handled more than 888,000 aircraft turns and moved 3.2 million tonnes of cargo, underlining its position in airport and cargo operations worldwide.
The Singapore agreement comes as Silk Way West Airlines continues to strengthen its cargo network through partnerships with service providers across key markets. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Baku, the airline operates a fleet of Boeing 777F, 747-8F and 747-400F freighters and serves more than 40 destinations across Europe, the CIS, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. The carrier manages annual cargo volumes exceeding 500,000 tonnes and plans further fleet renewal by 2030 with the addition of Boeing 777F, Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350F freighters.
